Ironman Louisville 2013 Results Analysis

After an extremely challenging Ironman Louisville 2012, which saw a DNF rate of 14% and an average finish time of 13:41, Ironman Louisville 2013 may have seemed mild, by comparison, with an average finish time of 13 hours, 24 minutes. But compared to many of the world's leading Ironman events we evaluate based on average finish time, even the 2013 edition ranks among the toughest.

See our Ironman Louisville 2012 Results Analysis for a comprehensive comparison of races from 2009 to 2012. Then, compare that history with our complete Ironman Louisville 2013 analysis below, covering results overall, by year, by age group, by swim, bike, and run split, by correlation between bike and run splits, and more. No matter how you look at it, Louisville is clearly one tough race; its finishers have much to be proud of.

For more, see our complete archive of Stats/Results/Analysis or visit our site map.

Ironman Louisville 2011 Results Analysis

See our complete 2012 Ironman Louisville Results Analysis. It was the toughest Ironman race in Louisville's ever had.

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Congratulations to the 2,276 triathletes (after 7% DNF) who finished the 2011 Ironman Louisville triathlon. With an overall average finish time of 13:11:38, Louisville still ranks among the most difficult events in RunTri's Top 25 Toughest Ironman races. As hard as this year's race may have been, veterans of the 2010 race -- which averaged 13:38:21 finish time -- know how much worse it could have been. [Remarkably, some kona qualifying times were more than an hour faster than last year; see our Ironman Louisville Kona Qualifying Times Analysis.]

We've sliced and diced the race results to compile the average splits, finish times, finishers and DNFs by age group.

Ironman Louisville 2010/2011

• Impact of Tough Weather Conditions 2009 vs. 2010
• Correlation Between Bike and Run Splits 2009 vs. 2010
• North American Ironman DNF Analysis

Ironman Louisville Average Splits,  Finish Times  Bike Course Map  Run Course Map  Qualifying for Kona Kona Qualifying Slots Qualifying Times Comparisons Qualify for Kona

Racing Ironman Triathlon Advice Racing Tips: Gear, Nutrition, Pace IronmanTraining Plans Louisville vs. other Ironman Races Toughest/Easiest Ironman Courses Swim Splits Bike Splits Run Splits

Ironman Louisville Kona Qualifying Times Analysis

At the 2011 Ironman Louisville, 65 triathletes rose above all others to qualify for Kona, to compete at the Ironman World Championship in Hawaii in October. Remarkably, the dynamics of slot allocations and finish times in Louisville changed perhaps more than in any 2011 qualifying event.

Especially noteworthy: a shift of 4 slots from men age groups to women, which dramatically increased competition among men, leading to qualifying times an hour or more faster than in some age groups, compared to 2011.

Ironman Louisville 2009 vs 2010: Impact of Difficult Weather Conditions

Our analysis of hardest and easiest ironman distance triathlons considers the differences from year to year in racing conditions, and makes appropriate adjustments as necessary to the overall ranking.  The difference between Ironman Louisville 2009 and 2010 merited such an adjustment. This year's stifling heat in Ironman Louisville led to an increase in the average finish time by 45+ minutes. Most of the change was in marathon times, resulting in the remarkable differences shown here. One outlier: W55-59 -- from 8 to 14 finishers, 2009 vs. 2010, nearly the same average time. Also see Correlation Between Bike and Run Splits 2009 vs. 2010 and North American Ironman DNF Analysis.

Ironman Louisville 2009 vs 2010: Correlation of Bike and Run Splits

It's the most consistent challenge in all long-distance triathlons: how hard to ride the bike, while still leaving enough in the tank to have a great run. When it comes to balancing the bike and the run, there are four groups: 1. Fast and Balanced; 2. Energy to Spare for a fast run; 3. Left it on the Bike Course; 4. Smooth and Steady for a slow bike and slow run.

You want to be #1 or #4.  Interesting comparison between 2009 (chart below) and 2010: bike times were within 10 minutes of each other, but the run in 2010 was devastatingly harsh. Lesson: ride too fast, in good conditions or not, and it'll cost you on the run. Especially if conditions are hot. That's what happened in 2010, when far more triathletes found themselves in #3 and even #4. And being in #1 wasn't much better for those below the slope line. Also see our Ironman Louisville Impact of Tough Conditions Analysis.

Ironman Louisville Run Course Map

Ironman Louisville Bike Course Map